OT M-60PB

_YugoSlav_ · February 5, 2024, 9:24pm

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OT M-60PB

Post by YugoSlav and Mahiwew

History and Description

OT M-60PB is the product of the Yugoslav military industry of the sixties. It arose due to the pressing need for protection of the infantry, which had to accompany tanks. At that time, all the other armies of the world were designing or introducing various APCs, which became the imperative of the time. At the end of 1956, the concept of the future APC was considered, and on April 16, 1957, a model of an armored personnel carrier was shown. The vehicle was modeled after the American M59 (the predecessor of the M113 series) and the Austrian Saurer 4K4FA. The chassis was borrowed from the SU-76 self-propelled gun, which later turned out to be a bad decision. During the design and testing phase, the new vehicle was labeled Object M-590. The prototype was completed in June 1958 and during 1958-59, it was tested by the manufacturer. In the commission’s report from March 4, 1961, it was stated that the vehicle had an insufficiently powerful engine, the maximum speed of 45 km/h was too low, the clutch steering units were outdated and the vehicle lacked amphibious ability. Despite everything, on December 1, 1961, the General Staff decided to introduce the M-590 into the Yugoslav armament.

Production was planned at the FAMOS factory in Sarajevo and the new APC was given the full name OT M-60. Serial production lasted until 1967 with a total of 182 vehicles completed. Although this was absolutely insufficient to cover the needs of the JNA for armored personnel carriers, production was suspended. No one was satisfied with the quality and combat capabilities of the OT M-60. During 1968, FAMOS initiated the development of a new steering system for the OT M-60. Those modified in this way received the designation M-60P. The new solution finally solved many problems, so in March 1972, the Technical Administration proposed bringing all armored personnel carriers to the M-60P standard.

In addition to the basic M-60P variant, several other variants were designed, including a command vehicle, mortar carrier, and medical vehicle. Perhaps the most well-known is the M-60PB armed with two recoilless rifles which according to a story was proposed by Josip Broz Tito himself in 1971 during a military maneuver. This variant was able to carry seven infantrymen and was operated by a crew of five. The driver was sitting in front on the left. Next to him was the radio operator who also operated the M53 machine gun through a porthole on the front panel. Behind the driver was the commander, and to his right was the operator of the M2HB heavy machine gun which was located in a fully rotatable cupola. The gunner of the two M60 82 mm recoilless rifles was located in the rear on the left. The rifles were intended for destroying armored targets with a fire rate of around 5 rounds per minute per gun. The M-60P was capable of climbing slopes up to 60%, side slopes of 40%, and water obstacles up to 1.35 meters deep, and could overcome vertical obstacles up to 0.6 meters and trenches up to 2 meters wide.

At the beginning of the war on the territory of the former SFRY, the shortcomings and general obsolescence of this vehicle immediately became apparent. The OT M-60P had terrible losses and was penetrated by any anti-armor weapon. The armor barely protected from rifle caliber rounds, the vehicle was not mobile enough, and the weapons were insufficient. In addition, the placement of recoilless rifles was flawed, especially since the gunner had to expose himself while reloading. It practically did not meet any of the basic requirements for survival on the battlefield (armor - firepower - mobility). Despite all its shortcomings, the vehicle was a very important step in Yugoslav vehicle development, as it was the first domestic armored vehicle the Yugoslavs massively produced and because it rapidly mechanized the Yugoslav army.

Specifications

Essentials
- Length; 5.02 m
- Width; 2.70 m
- Height; 2.39 m
- Mass; ca. 11 t
- Crew; 5
Protection
- Armor;
  - Hull;
    - front: upper plate: 8-9 mm, middle plate: 12-13 mm, lower plate: 15 mm
    - sides: angled plate: 9-10 mm, flat plate: 12-13 mm
    - rear: 9-10 mm
- APS; N/A
- ERA; N/A
- Smoke; N/A
Mobility
- Engine; FAMOS FFTR, 140 hp
- Power/weight; 12.73 hp/t
- Top speed; 43 km/h
- Reverse speed; 4.1 km/h
- Amphibious; No
Firepower
- Main;
  - 2x M60 82 mm recoilless rifle
    - Stabilizer; No
    - Vertical guidance; -4° / +6°
    - Traverse; 360°
    - Turret rotation speed; unknown
    - Zoom; Day: 3.8x, Night: 5x
    - Rangefinder; 200-1200 m
    - Fire rate; 4-5 shots/min per gun
    - Ammo in storage; unknown
    - Types of rounds;
      - M602PR HEAT
        
        Penetration; 200 mm
        
        Effective range; 1000 m
        
        Projectile mass; 4.300 kg
        
        Explosive mass; 0.620 kg
        
        Muzzle velocity; 388 m/s
      - M72 HEAT (rocket-assisted round)
        
        Penetration; 300 mm
        
        Effective range; 1600 m
        
        Projectile mass; 4.630 kg
        
        Explosive mass; 0.720 kg
        
        Muzzle velocity; 390 m/s
        
        Velocity at 452 m; 665,6 m/s
- Secondary;
  - M2HB 12.7 mm heavy machine gun
    - Fire rate; 400-500 shots/min
    - Belt capacity; 100 rounds
    - Ammo in storage; unknown
    - Penetration at 10 m; 31 mm
  - M53 7.92 mm machine gun
    - Fire rate; 800-1000 shots/min
    - Belt capacity; 50 rounds
    - Ammo in storage; unknown
    - Penetration at 10 m; 10 mm